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Refreshing yet frustrating one-time watch
Well-executed timelapse, family trauma, okay-ish romance, great banter between ML and FL.Great acting. Music not to my taste. Refreshing friendship. It was nice to watch a youth drama for a change, but the slow pacing tested my patience. Well-rounded female lead, but it also had me enraged over everything she had to endure growing up. Her struggles were hard to watch at times, and I couldn’t help but be frustrated. The emotional weight made it a bit too much for a rewatch, and once you know the plot, there’s little left to revisit. That said, as a one-time watch, it’s definitely worth experiencing. Most imp- Happy ending.
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The Best Coming of Age Drama I've Seen In Ages
**This is just my opinion. I truly appreciate all of the hard work and dedication that went into the production of this drama. Thank you.**To be honest, I wasn't expecting a lot when I started watching this series. I wasn't familiar with the actors and I'm not a fan of time travel in stories. I decided to watch it because I was curious about Eun Gyeol's story. I'm very glad that I did and couldn't recommend it more highly.
It has a phenomenal cast, is very well written and has a beautiful soundtrack. It is heartwarming, funny, sad, suspenseful and ultimately satisfying. I laughed out loud and was moved to actual tears several times, a rarity for me. Viki has the lyrics to the songs translated as well so those of us who don't speak Korean are able to better appreciate the music. If you're interested in knowing them, as I am, I'd recommend watching it on there.
There are already reviews that are very detailed about the plot and characters and I've no desire to ruin it for anyone. If I were to change one thing about the drama, I would simply ask that there be more of it. Especially the ending which felt a little rushed.
I was happy that the writers, cast and production people made a series about a CODA student and his family in such a respectful, yet natural way. It was very well done.
All of the cast did an absolutely fantastic job, especially Ryeoun, who played Ha Eun Gyeoul, Choi Hyun Wook, who played Ha Lee Chan, Shin Eun Soo, who played Yoon Cheong Ah, and Seoul In Ah, who played Choi Se Kyeong. Jung Hyun Joon, who played Ha Eun Gyeoul as a child, and Choi Won Young, who played the older Lee Chan, were amazing as well.
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A highschool romcom with a lot of music, 90ies style and very charming characters
This show is the goat of all dramas, so you should definitely watch it! I mean, the plot is about an 18-year-old guitarist who goes back to 1995 after fighting with his father and the first person he meets, guess what? Yes, it's his father, but the same age as him. I won't dwell on the events that take place, 'cause it's best to discover them by watching, although some of them may be predictable, they're still quite enjoyable. Also the soundtrack is amazing, so you can look forward to it! The actors and actresses did a wonderful job, so much so that I fell in love with On Eun Yu (Seol In Ah) and I wish she was real lmao.Hope you like it <3 <3
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Best Drama I've seen in a very long time.
The last time I was this attached to a show's characters was reply 1988. Everything from the story progression, to the music, cinematography, emotional depth was on point.This story took us on a journey of knowing what is really worth in life, and that sometimes you just have to live in the moment and do what you can.
All the actors did an amazing job. The chemistry between everyone was on point, especially between Lee Chan and Eun Gyeol. I love that the ending was picture perfect and exactly what everyone deserved.
The comedic timings of all the characters especially Lee Chan were fantastic.
I can keep going on and on about this show, but most importantly, this shows puts things into perspective for everyone and is relatable no matter who you are. If you are looking for a little slice of life, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS.
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This is one of my favorite k-dramas out there
Twinkling Watermelon is one of my favorite K-dramas. I recently rewatched it for the first time, and it was just as amazing as I remembered.When I first heard about this drama, I didn’t plan to watch it while it was still ongoing because I usually avoid ongoing shows. However, the spoilers people were posting intrigued me so much that I gave in. I kept telling myself to wait until it finished airing, but every day, it felt like the wait would never end. By episode 10, I finally decided to start watching. The main reason I was drawn to it was its focus on the experiences of deaf individuals, which resonated with me because my uncle is also deaf. It’s rare to find a drama that explores such characters so well.
Episode 1 is crucial for any K-drama since it needs to hook the audience right away, and Twinkling Watermelon did exactly that. The background story of Eun-gyeol’s family was heartbreaking, and his personal struggles were deeply moving. He had to hide his love for music from his family because he was the only one who could hear and speak, and he felt the weight of their expectations. If he failed, people would blame his parents. He couldn’t afford to be a failure, and that pressure built up so much stress. Music became his escape.
One reason I fell in love with this drama is that I love bands. But I was so frustrated—why wasn’t there a Watermelon Sugar version of the songs?! Did the actors not sing? Or was the band not skilled enough with their instruments to release a proper version? I was really disappointed about that.
As for the characters, my favorite is definitely Yi-chan. Choi Hyun-wook did an amazing job portraying him—he’s so funny and relatable. As someone who is the same age as the characters in the drama, I really connected with Yi-chan’s desire to form a band and make his youth shine. (I just wish I were extroverted like him so I could "twinkle" too.) It’s also incredibly sad because when he tells Eun-gyeol about his dream, we as viewers already know his future—one where he loses his ability to speak and can’t continue making music. That made me so emotional.
Chung-ah’s voice was beautiful. It was so soft and soothing, and I loved listening to her. One of my favorite moments was when she told Yi-chan, "You own your feelings, and I own mine." That line really stuck with me.
One of the saddest scenes in the drama was Yi-chan’s dream of getting into college and graduating. It was heartbreaking to watch.
Overall, this was a fantastic drama. I absolutely loved it. I’d rate it a solid 9.5/10. However, there were quite a few plot holes and unresolved questions that left me frustrated.
Questions That Needed Answers
I feel like the ending was rushed. Eun-gyeol returned to the present in episode 16, but that was already halfway through the episode, leaving very little time to wrap things up properly. They should have added more minutes to explain everything more thoroughly.
Here are the questions I wish had been answered:
1. What happened to Eun-yu? What happened to her family? Did her parents still get divorced, or did they reconcile? The ending didn’t mention her at all, even though she played a huge role in helping Eun-gyeol.
2. Did Watermelon Sugar and Chung-ah recognize Eun-gyeol? This is a major plot hole for me. It seems impossible that they would forget him when he was such an important part of their lives. He was the band’s guitarist, the reason Yi-chan had his accident, the person who helped Chung-ah escape her abusive stepmother, and the one who taught her sign language. How could they not remember him?
3. Why did Viva become the master? And how did Eun-yu know that the master was her grandfather? Just how?
Despite these lingering questions, I truly loved the overall story. It beautifully captured the essence of youth, and as someone who is still young, I found it incredibly relatable.
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Arguably the best
This k-drama did (almost) everything perfect. The acting/cast was phenomenal. The main four actors are all such great actors (plus they’re all so attractive). The music fits perfectly with all the scenes, adding a powerful emotional element. The OST is also just so fun to listen to regularly. I definitely cried in the last episode. My only complaint is that the ending was a bit rushed but all the other amazing parts of the show make up for it. Overall, a very family-friendly, binge worthy show that I’d definitely rewatch several times. Candidate for best k-drama of 2023, if not all-time.Was this review helpful to you?
MUST WATCH
SOSOS GOOD this drama had me crying every single episode especially the last one 💔Twinkling watermelon got me out of my kdrama slump for sure. im gonna miss it so much. Every single character brought sm comfort & made watching sm fun even though the storyline is really sad.(The only thing i didn’t like was the ending bc it was a bit rushed but it was still good.) Definitely recommend watching this one even if you’re not into time traveling/fantasy like me i’m glad i gave this dramas a chance so you should too.
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well written and exciting plot
The kdrama's only flaw is the fact that it ended up leaving several gaps empty. I was hoping to see a little more of the protagonist when he returns to the current year, but I also think this could be a big wild card for a possible second season 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. One of the best kdrama I've ever seen, I cried my eyes out in some episodes, it brought me an inner peace that made me become immersed and finish the entire series in one go. Very good, I will recommend it to everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
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Viva la Vida
Want a feel good drama that highlights the importance of family & shows the lengths a child will go to for the sake of their parents (in a non-toxic way)? Watch this! It portrays these aspects beautifully with an abundance of heart & humor. 🩵The ML has the responsibility to help his deaf parents & younger brother communicate with the world. This leaves him little time to focus on himself. When he discovers a talent for playing music, a fire is lit within. Then an accident happens &, burdened with guilt, he puts his dreams aside & focuses on his family. But his love for the guitar never dies, so he performs in secret with a hidden identity.
Drama happens, his father demands he quits, they fight… & the ML is magically transported back in time. He meets his dad as a teen who can HEAR & believes that his purpose in being there is to stop whatever caused his dad’s hearing loss from happening. Cue all sorts of hilarity from this chaotic duo!
Then he meets his mom too & just… *sigh*. Their relationship is so sweet. The ways he protects her & his efforts to better her life are so loving. The cast did such a great job showing that, before becoming adults with responsibilities, our parents were once teens with hopes & dreams too. 🩷
And the whole aspect of his parents falling in love? Precious! This is a really good drama. The music, friendships, familial bonds, & dual love stories are so fun! 🫶🏻
_________\\__________//________
-⬇️ S P O I L E R S 🚫 B E L O W ⬇️-
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…
….
……
The things I always want to know 😏😉…
- First(real)Kiss : MC - ep.10, SC - ep.14💋
- Together : Both Couples - ep.13 👩🏻❤️👨🏻
- BreakUp: Nope
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YOU WILL NOT REGRET WATCHING THIS SHOW!!!
I cannot explain how much I love this show, it has seriously taken a big spot in my heart and I feel empty now that's its over.I'm not joking when I say that I was so desperate for more that when the ending credits on the last episode played, I saw the 00:59 at the bottom and thought that there was another 59 minutes left. I'm not sure what I was even hoping for, bloopers or maybe a second epilogue, but even though in back of my head I knew it was seconds not minutes, I still needed to double check in hopes that that voice was wrong and the editors were just pranking me.
as much as this show leaves me empty, it will always have a special space in my heart. the ending leaves me satisfied and as much as I want more, more might just ruin the perfection that this show is.
this show has helped deal the hole in my heart that was meant to be filled by my youth, I feel like I lived my teenage years through them. I love a good youth show, but this one takes the crown.
the first 2 episodes are more of a build up to the plot, but you'll be completely lost without them. they're incredibly interesting and were great to watch, but episode 3 was the one that's really captured me. I just needed to know what was next.
this show was truly an emotional roller coaster, the writers need to open classes on cliff hangers bc this show really just kept me hooked week after week. I bore very easily and often drop shows, but this one really drew me in.
I'm not someone who is great with emotion, I often can't understand emotional shows and drop them bc I'm unable to feel what I need to which just makes everything feel very isolating and confusing, but this show really hit me. maybe it was the acting, maybe it was the writing, but this show was absolutely amazing, it's a piece of art.I do wish we got to see eunho and chungha more, I adore them so so so much.
thank you to the random tiktoker who put a very curiosity stricking tiktok on my fyp, the second I saw that video I just knew I had to watch the show and that was one of the best choices I have ever made.
if you've read this far and are still wondering if you should watch it or not, watch it. just as the title if my post says, you won't regret it. this show is so deserving of its current 9.2 rating, so much so that it deserves more.
I've said so much, I'm not sure i why, I just can't stop.
I'm not sure if any show will be able to hold my heart the way this show does, but I don't think I want that anyways, this show is so special to me and I hope it continues being this way for a very long time, maybe even 28 years.
thanks you very much to everyone who worked on this show, even u you did a "minor" job, your hard work helped bring this masterpiece to life. thank you to the writers who wrote this beautiful piece of art and thank you to the actors who brought it to life. you did so well and I hope you are proud of yourselves. you've touched my life and my heart.
this is the end of my very very long review, I tried to keep it spoiler free!
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Must Watch!!
"Twinkling Watermelon" is a delightful Korean drama that effortlessly blends romance, comedy, and a touch of nostalgia. The story revolves around the relationship between the 4 lead characters, played with undeniable chemistry by the talented cast. It's definitely a must watch k-drama. Hope they'll release the drama on big platforms such as Netflix, etc because it's so underrated and deserves more hype! Check out the show's charming keychain collection on [ https://arya.lipsstudent.xyz/merchandise/keychain/hard-plastic/buy-viva-la-vida-watermelon-keychain-online-in-mumbai-200-only/ ] to bring a piece of the drama into your life!Was this review helpful to you?
A Youth Drama We Didn’t Know We Needed, But Deserved
A story about a boy who goes back in time to prevent a tragedy from occurring… that’s just the surface-level synopsis of his trip.Ha Eun Gyeol, our main character, embarks on a journey that revitalizes his youth, helps his dad shine in a way like never before, and opens a door of communication for his mother to the world— one sign at a time!
Twinkling Watermelon (반짝이는 워터멜론) is not just a comedic slice-of-life saturated with fluffy moments enough to make you pass out from sweetness at every corner. Rather, it’s a drama full of wounded interpersonal relationships, character development, healing, forgiveness, and acceptance admist the backdrop of '95’s Seoul. In fact, the setting is so well-crafted, coupled with the original premise— that it makes the audience feel like they’re embarking on the same journey as our main character.
One of the biggest aspects that I absolutely adore about this drama is the stellar cast. Whoever did the casting deserves some kind of award! Characterizations is so on-point that it leaves you in awe. CHW practically MOLDS into the role of Ha Yi Chan, and the same goes with the orher crew members. Line delivery was flawless, and the amount of times Ha Eun Gyeol (Ryeoun) made me cry is probably too much to count— I mean, mans is a whole tear-production plant!
Additionally, this drama teaches so many great values about family that will deeply resonate and tug at the heartstrings of many viewers. As someone with a close-knit relationship with their parents, and coming from a cultural background of collectivist beliefs, the interactions between HEC ans HEG made me deeply reflect on the relationship that I have with my loved ones.
For those who still have your parents, guardian, or a loved one in general, cherish the moments that you have with them. If theres anything that Twinkling Watermelon wants you to realize, it is as Mr. Viva said, “Major and minor chords must coexist harmoniously for a song to sound delightful and complete. The same goes for life. Experiencing hardships and joyful moments help you build your dazzling life.”
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